Several European countries, including Britain, have summoned the Israeli ambassador to officially protest a new round of settlement construction in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. Other reports indicate that Britain and France are considering recalling their ambassadors from Israel.

Reports surfaced Tuesday in the Israeli media that Israeli officials privately considered the United States behind the European protests.

"The European move is essentially an American move," an anonymous Israeli official is quoted by Ynet News as saying. "The Brits asked the Americans how to act."

The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced last week that 3,000 new housing units were approved, while plans were moving forward on thousands more.

European and American diplomats consider the expansion of settlements an impediment to peace, while Palestinians fear that their potential state shrinks with every new housing unit.